Mitsubishi Eclipse 4th Generation (DK2A/DK4A) 2006-2012 Review

The 4th-gen Eclipse coupe and Spyder received their only facelift for the 2009 model year.

A new front bumper¹ and grille² make an appearance, with the previous triangular body-color vertical bar with the Mitsubishi logo on it in the middle of the grille disappearing and the logo now just mounted in the center of a continuous black grille opening. The lower valance loses the round foglight housings and these are replaced with squared-off slots³, while the lower bumper gets a subtle full-width lip spoiler on the 2.4. On the GT, the center bumper bar is blacked out, and the dark treatment extends all the way down to just above the lip spoiler, creating the impression of a big black front grille.

The bulbous old monochrome body-color rear bumper is replaced with a more aggressively styled item with a strong horizontal crease below¹ the bigger numberplate holder². A blacked-out lower section is used on the V6, but it remains body color on the four-cylinder³. The 2009 V6 also clearly shows off its new dual exhausts⁴.

The new front¹ and rear bumpers² can easily be spotted in profile, along with some new wheel styles³, but otherwise, there are no differences.

The interior design and layout remain unchanged throughout the Eclipse's lifetime.

Two engines and four transmissions were offered from the outset with hardly any changes to them throughout the Eclipse's seven-year production run. The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces 162 hp and does not really do the Eclipse's sports-car aspirations any favors, especially mated to the old-fashioned four-speed automatic transmission. The five-speed manual is better. Mitsubishi tries to make up for it by providing a sequential-shift manual mode to the automatic transmission. The fact that the Eclipse is front-wheel drive precludes it from the company of the proper sports coupes in the eyes of most enthusiasts.

The V6 is a lot more powerful, with at least 263 hp on tap and its transmissions are either a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual. The Spyder gets all the same options initially, but both the manual transmissions are dropped from its roster from the 2010 model year. In 2011, the coupe loses its V6 six-speed manual model, too, and the base 2.4 coupe remains the only model in the range with a (five-speed) manual option.

The old-school, naturally aspirated, large-capacity engines are not as thrifty as modern downsized turbo engines, but this should be seen in context with the engines' relative simplicity and the low purchase price of an old car such as this. In practice, owners seem to improve on the EPA estimates relatively easily, but owners' submissions are only a guideline as to what is possible, as the way these figures are obtained is not controlled by the EPA. The EPA estimates remain the more reliable numbers and, according to them, the manual 2.4 coupe is the most economical of the lot, with a 23-mpg combined figure and 28 mpg possible on the highway. The automatic 3.8 V6 Spyder is the worst with corresponding figures of 19 and 24 mpg. The Eclipse's gas-tank capacity is 17.7 gallons, good for a range of between 336 and 407 miles on the combined cycle.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The 2006 Eclipse comes with all-disc ABS brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, daytime running lights, seatbelt pre-tensioners, six airbags, side-impact door beams, and, on the V6 GT, traction control. Stability control is notably absent, even as an option, on the first three model years. This was addressed in 2008 when the flagship SE-V6 trim received standard stability control; in 2009, the GT also received it as standard. An auto-dimming interior rearview mirror was optional, not standard, so you'll have to check whether this was specified; by 2007, this feature was added as standard to the SE trim and, by extension, it is fitted to the 2008 SE-V6 too. All 2008 models have standard tire-pressure monitoring. By 2010, stability control is finally standardized across the board and a rearview camera becomes optionally available for the first time on the lower trims; it is standard on the GS Sport and GT coupe trims and on all the Spyders for 2010.

The NHTSA never tested the Eclipse, but the IIHS did partial testing of the Spyder only, where it scored "Good" scores for the moderate front-overlap and original side crash tests and "Marginal" for its headrests and seats. General crash safety is about par for the course for a 2006 design.

The 4th-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse DK2A/DK4A lineup comprises two trims, GS and GT. The GS is the base four-cylinder model, and the GT is the sporty V6 with a higher equipment level. The coupes became available as 2006 models and the Spyder soft-top convertible joined the lineup as a 2007 model, mirroring the coupe's trims, as well as a new SE trim that essentially adds the Sun & Sound package to the normal four-cylinder coupe. For 2008, the SE-V6 trim is added above the GT coupe but it's essentially a GT with the Sun & Sound and Premium Sport packages added. Here are a few notable range-wide annual updates:

• In 2007, the 4th-gen Eclipse Spyder soft-top convertible joins the lineup.
• In 2008, satellite radio was added to the optional audio-system upgrade, and tire-pressure monitoring became standard across the board.
• In 2009, a facelift is applied to the lineup.
• In 2010, the audio system is expanded to include a standard auxiliary audio jack and an optional Bluetooth and an iPod adapter, while a rearview camera is a newly available option (standard on higher trims), as is remote engine start.
• From 2011, the GT is no longer offered with manual transmission and all coupes get blacked-out roofs.

The 4th-generation Eclipse's interior is far from a class act, but it's better than expected and has a few tricks up its sleeve. While the styling and material quality won't blow you away, it is inoffensive enough, with a few imaginative flourishes such as the blue instrument lighting and the interesting design of the door releases. The front seats are surprisingly comfortable and offer lots of space with nearly 43 inches of legroom available, but the rear seats are a token gesture and best occupied by small children or luggage - it's a boon that you can fold them flat and access a commendably large luggage area. Even with them in place, the coupe offers 15.7 cu.ft back there. Take note that the Spyder offers a very limited 5.2 cu.ft in the trunk, so you'll definitely be stowing luggage on the back seat if you want to go touring two-up.

The basic lube service should be performed every 3,750-7,500 miles, depending on driving conditions, as described in the next section. Every 15,000 miles, the cabin air filter must also be replaced, and this service typically costs $500 at a Mitsubishi dealer and around $275 at an independent shop for both engines. Keep in mind that neither engine has hydraulic valve lifters, so along with all the aforementioned items, valve clearances must be adjusted at 30,000-mile intervals, along with an air filter replacement; the bill for this service at Mitsubishi usually comes to around $770 or $500 elsewhere for the four-cylinder and $1,290 or $930 respectively for the V6. The 60,000-mile mark calls for all of these items and a change of engine coolant; thereafter, the coolant must be changed every 30,000 miles. The 60,000-mile service is a big one, and Mitsubishi normally charges around $1,140 for it on the four-cylinder or $1,600 on the V6; an independent shop would charge around $790 or $1,160, respectively.

Iridium-tipped spark plugs should last 105,000 miles and typically cost around $20 each. Mitsubishi reckons the automatic transmission's fluid needs changing every 30,000 miles under severe operating conditions. Still, even under normal conditions, we would not extend this interval to more than 60,000 miles in the interest of transmission longevity. Mitsubishi shouldn't charge much more than $300 for a transmission-oil change. Cambelts should be good for 105,000 miles, but prudent owners tend to change them along with the transmission fluid at 60,000 miles, especially in cold states, because cold weather typically reduces a belt's service life and a snapped belt leads to extensive engine damage. An independent shop would charge you around $900-$920 to replace the cambelt on either engine. Consider replacing the water pump too, while they're in there, to save on labor.

We usually recommend that the basic lube service should be performed every 5,000 miles if a vehicle is operated under severe conditions such as on dusty roads, in sub-zero temperatures, or if it is allowed to idle for extended periods. However, Mitsubishi recommends even shorter intervals of 3,750 miles under such conditions for changing the oil and oil filter. Under normal conditions, the manufacturer recommends 7,500-mile intervals for the lube service, which should cost around $300 at Mitsubishi and around $155 at an independent service center. If you want to do a DIY job, you'll pay around $63 for five quarts of fully synthetic oil of the 5W-20 oil type and a filter. Both the four-cylinder and V6 have the same oil capacity of 4.5 quarts. An air filter should cost around $20 on either engine. For more information on the wiper-blade or tire size on your Eclipse, your local Mitsubishi dealer or spares shop will be able to assist.

The list of 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls is not long:

• There were several brake recalls. Almost 75,000 2006-2009 Eclipses were recalled to inspect and flush the ABS hydraulic brake unit and to replace it, if necessary, because corrosion inside the unit may cause internal valves to fail and lead to a loss of braking force. Another 3,760 and 1,151 2006 Eclipses were recalled to replace a brake master cylinder with a defective internal seal that may impair braking performance and to replace a brake-booster body that may fail and lead to total brake failure, respectively.
• 2006 and 2007 Eclipses were recalled to repair or replace a fuel-tank support bracket that may split and fail, potentially causing the tank to drop and be punctured in an accident.
• 1,772 2007 Eclipses were recalled to replace an ignition-interlock cable that was manufactured incorrectly, allowing the key to be removed from the ignition without the transmission having to be in Park, and causing the vehicle to roll away if the parking brake is not applied.
• 1,516 2007 models were recalled to replace an improperly manufactured front cross member that may fracture, allowing the passenger-side lower control arm to separate, leading to a loss of steering control.

Here are a few of the most common OBD-II error codes you may encounter on your Eclipse if you have an OBD reader:

• If there is something amiss with one of the oxygen sensors or an anomalous reading from one of them on a 2006-2012 Eclipse, P0031, P0037, P0051, P0136, P0141, P0171, P0420, P0421, P0430, P0431, and P0433 are some of the possible error codes. The P0401 error code is usually associated with a problem with the exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) system. P0441, P0442, P0446, P0450, P0452, and P0455 are error codes associated with the evaporative emissions (EVAP) control system.
• P0108 is a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor error code.
• On a 2006-2012 Eclipse, P0113 is an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor error code.
• On any 2006-2012 Eclipse, P0128 is a coolant-temperature error code.
• P0183 is a fuel-tank temperature-sensor error.
• On a 2006 Eclipse, P0720 and P0751 are automatic-transmission error codes. P0720 is an output-speed sensor error, and P0751 is a shift-solenoid error.

Rust and corrosion do not seem to be common, but the fuel filler's door is more prone to rust than most other parts at an average mileage of around 50,000 miles, necessitating its replacement. Eclipses equipped with the electrically adjustable driver's seat may suffer drive-cable failures, which will result in a noise when operating the seat adjuster or a refusal to adjust if the cable has failed, so properly test the power seat for prompt, quiet, and smooth adjustment. Rather many bent alloy wheels are reported and although this could be down to usage patterns, the fact that the Eclipse experiences more failures may point to more fragile wheels. Check for visible damage and look out for wobbles while driving that may point to bent, out-of-round wheels. They bend more easily on the inside where there aren't any wheel spokes supporting the rim. Besides the transmission interlock issue that prompted a recall, ignition switch and key problems on the Mitsubishi Eclipse are not common, but a few owners have complained of failed remote keyfobs, so test it properly, as this item costs around $500 to replace.

Despite there never being a recall for it, quite a few 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse airbag problems were reported, whether this is a warning light on the dash or a passenger-side airbag cover that comes adrift. Several owners of 2007 and 2008 Eclipses equipped with electric sunroofs have complained that the sunroof starts to have difficulty moving and may need a manual push to move forward and backward. The sunroof guides usually have to be replaced, but this has not solved the problem in all cases, because it tends to return. Sunroofs tend to become stuck at an average of around 120,000 miles, although this can happen as early as 40,000 miles.

While a few things may go wrong, a lot seems to go right:

• The soft top does not quite offer the noise and temperature insulation of the hard-top coupe, but the mechanism seems sound and very few 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible problems are reported.
• Besides the blown fuse mentioned earlier that can cause a flat battery, there are few issues with the electrics, and problems with the 2006-2012 Eclipse's window regulators, CD player, left and right blinkers, headlights, and instrument cluster are rare.
• Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioner/AC problems on the 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse hardly register on the list of common complaints at all.
• Exterior build quality is good and with the exception of the gas cap that seems prone to corrosion, there are hardly any problems with the Mitsubishi Eclipse's liftgate, doors, or paintwork to report. Of course, liftgate gas struts may give out with age, but that happens to all cars.
• The fueling and emissions after-treatment systems are generally very reliable and although the odd catalytic converter gives up the ghost, there was no 2006-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse catalytic converter recall, because it's not a safety-critical item. Except for the odd duff cat, there aren't actually many problems with the Mitsubishi Eclipse's exhaust, oxygen sensors, or evaporative emissions (EVAP) system to report at all.

The lame duck in the range is the four-speed automatic 2.4 four-cylinder drivetrain. The transmission is old-fashioned and short of gear ratios and the engine struggles under the car's weight, doing its sporty pretensions no favors. The five-speed manual is a little better, but the four-cylinder is generally uninspiring and the performance on offer is adequate for a sedan, not for a sporty coupe or convertible. Earlier years suffered more problems as well and were thin on safety features, so we'd avoid the 2006-2008 pre-facelift Eclipses entirely for these reasons. Keep in mind that for the 2009 model year, even the facelifted four-cylinders still made do without stability control, an indispensable safety feature in our eyes.

It appears that a 2010 or newer V6 with the automatic five-speed transmission may just be the sweet spot in the 4th-generation Mitsubishi Eclipse lineup. Both stability control and a rearview camera are standard, it was subject to no recalls whatsoever, complaints and problems are at an all-time low, and the punchy V6 is a pleasure to use. Enthusiasts will enjoy the six-speed manual transmission more, but check it out carefully, as both the transmission and clutch are prone to a few issues, as outlined above, and are more prone to abuse and harsh launches. The Eclipse 4th gen is not a genuine sports car anyway - its portliness and front-wheel drive conspire against its ambitions - so the relaxed automatic V6 is a more natural fit and subdues the torque steer a little better.

The 4th-generation Mitsubishi Eclipse has earned a few black marks on its report card, the main ones being a weak four-cylinder engine, high weight, and an FWD PS platform derived from the Galant sedan and Endeavor SUV that doesn't quite hold a candle to sportier RWD rivals. The manual transmission is also prone to a few more issues than we'd like in a sporty car that attracts enthusiasts. But if you want to go that way, opt for a Mustang instead. The Eclipse's strengths lie in the coupe's excellent comfort, large luggage area, well-judged suspension, and strong V6 that makes two-up touring a pleasure - and it still handles well enough for the odd backroad blast, even if that's not the main reason you'd buy it.